Germans make it four wins out of five in the competitive group D but are pipped to the top spot after losing the direct duel against Denmark in round two last week.

GROUP D
Germany vs Iceland 26:17 (14:8)

Ahead of this match Denmark had handled their business against Chile, defeating them comprehensively to ensure the pressure was on Iceland to get a win and deny the Danes a number one spot going into the eighth-finals.

But after just 19 minutes the Danes could rest easy as an 11:5 lead was opened up by the Germans who stopped the Icelandic team scoring for an eight-minute period during the opening period (13-21st minute). 

It was during this time that goalkeeper Till Klimpke, again a formidable force for the Germans with 10 saves (42%) in total in the game, tried his hand at the other end, but missed the unguarded net from his own area following a Darri Aronsson mishandle for Iceland.

Down the other end, Iceland’s first choice goalkeeper Viktor Gisil Hallgrimsson was having an off day with just one save from 12 attempts at him inside the first 20 minutes so Iceland coach Einar Andri Einarsson brought in Andri Scheving for the rest of the match and the defence readjusted.

By the half-time break Klimpke had made seven saves already, but Iceland’s attacking figures were woeful – just eight goals from 17 attempts.

In the second half the change of goalkeeper saw an improvement as Scheving made six saves (eight in total) with the game much closer than in the first half.  But scoring just eight goals in a first half and finding yourself down by seven at the start of the second, is a tough ask and Iceland had it all to do.

They just simply could not find the right formula today though as Germany’s Max Neuhaus, who later described the game as “the best we have played so far at Spain 2019”, won the best player award with his eight strikes in total, seven of which came in the second period – just two less than the entire Icelandic team managed in the second 30 minutes.

The result means that Iceland finish in third spot in group D and they will face the second-placed team in group C which was Portugal, ahead of the final round of group C matches later today in Pontevedra. Germany end in second spot and will face the third place team, currently Brazil.

“Our defence was very good today and Iceland could only score eight goals in the first half,” said Germany coach Martin Heuberger to SpainHandball19.com after the match. “I think this was the basis on which our victory today was forged.”

Best Player of the Match: Max Neuhaus (GER)